Chapter 4: Between Two Lives
She looked around. She had woken up in the same place again. Those familiar walls, the hazy morning light... Everything seemed to be in its place, but something inside her wasn't.
Her mother in this life had once told her:
> "If you act like it's going to happen, it eventually will, my love."
So I tried to act that way too. As if I had no past life. As if Elif had never existed, as if she wasn't the reason I became who I am. I tried to live like someone who was genuinely happy.
But just when I almost believed the lie myself—
my dreams shattered everything I had carefully built.
In my dream, I saw my mother's face. But not the mother from this life. It was Elif's mother. Her eyes were full of sorrow. She called out to me,
> "Elif... Didn't you ever love me? Why are you trying to forget me, my daughter?"
My heart ached.
That was the moment I knew: I could never leave Elif behind. Because she was me.
To forget her was to deny my very existence.
And in that moment, I chose to claim her. Even if the world never knew it, I knew it.
No matter what anyone said, I was Elif. And I would continue her fight—through Alina.
Then suddenly, someone called my name.
"Alina! What are you doing, daydreaming again?" my mother said with her usual Greek accent. Then she softened,
> "My love, come downstairs. You know how your father feels about dinner being on time."
I sighed. "Alright, Mom," I muttered, my tone a bit bratty, perhaps unintentionally.
She gave me a look but said nothing more.
Still, I continued on my path.
I had to convince my father to let me attend today's gathering in Bolaya.
All the high-ranking military officials would be there.
My family wanted me to marry someone of status and strength.
But I had a different intention.
Maybe I'd meet fate again there...
Or maybe, I'd run into my past.